Lord Black said: “His case was highlighted by the publication PinkNews, which does an excellent job of campaigning in such crucial policy areas. As my noble friend said, Ayden, who had come out to his parents just a few months before his death, left two suicide notes outlining the homophobic and racist bullying he had experienced. He had been targeted with consistent violence, abuse and malicious allegations because of his sexuality and his Japanese origins.”

He went on to express regret at the fact that, despite having made strides towards equality, including the introduction of equal marriage later this month, young gay people still experience a high level of homophobic bullying in schools.

Baroness Brinton also discussed the case of Keenan-Olson, and pointed to a 2012 Government report titled ‘Preventing Suicide in England’, which specifically noted LGBT alongside ethnic minority groups and children in a list of nine categories needing specific care.

She went on to strongly condemn all bullying, noting that 69% of all school children say they have been bullied.